Hoss (band)

History

Hoss formed in Melbourne in 1990 with Scott Bailey on bass, Todd McNeair on drums, Joel Silbersher on guitar and vocals, and Michael Weber on lead guitar. The name was chosen because Silbersher liked monosyllabic names. They signed with Au Go Go Records, which released their debut single "Green" and first album Guzzle. Silbersher told The Canberra Times that their sound was "stripped down, raucous rock 'n' roll.

Their second album, You Get Nothing, appeared in April 1992; McFarlane felt the band was at its best on that record, mixing Detroit rock action with Rolling Stones raunch. By then Hoss were part of Melbourne's Dog Meat Records hard rock scene alongside Powder Monkeys and Splatterheads. Shortly before that album's release, McNeair and Weber returned to Seminal Rats and were replaced by Michael "Captain Kaos" Glenn and Jimmy Sfetsos respectively. Silbersher was the main songwriter; he released a solo album, Melonman, in 1994 and collaborated with Owen as the Tendrils on a self-titled album in June 1995.

He also toured as a backing musician with Tex Perkins and Dirty Three. In March 1994 Hoss issued the EP Gentle Claws, followed by the album Everyday Lies in November 1995. Joachim Hiller of Ox-Fanzine wrote that Silbersher must have experienced much suffering to express his pain with such a hoarse blues voice. During 1995 Glenn was replaced on drums by Dean Muller.